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maandag 29 oktober 2012

WANDERBACH page 157

The duchess enjoys the jealous looks while she
dances with the host as if she owns him and rubs her soft body against his. Tork sighs because he knows what follows. After the dance, during which she leaves her fragrance
brand like a cat to have other ladies think twice, she lets him free and will
reclaim him only as soon as she wants to return to her suite. Not that they
have an affair, even if most guests are convinced of it in the mean time.

After the dance he takes leave with a short
curtsy. She smiles complaisant. Except some platitudes
they didn’t speak. Not more then a
small affliction to let his past friend rest in peace and the duchess knows, but
it seems that she plays her roll with even more vivacity just because of that.

After the opening dance the floor becomes
crowded. The orchestra is relieved and up tempos. Tork watches amused. Hopefully
he doesn’t have to dance anymore tonight but mostly his freedom is confined; and
yet this is better then making the journey alone, he thinks when a firm lady
with red apple cheeks gives notice. She is the wife of the governor, the governess
like she calls herself jocular. Tork is fond of her, this woman of the
countryside that never denies her origin, why the duchess calls her “that up
cased farmers bitch”.

He offers his arm cheerful but the woman shakes
her head. ‘I’m not begging for a dance’, she conspiratorially whispers. ‘I want
to protect you. You don’t like dancing, isn’t it?’

- ‘Not like is too much. The obligation disturbs
me. It’s all so little spontaneous and according to protocol. That I don’t like.
In fact I’m just an ordinary guy yet this ship is mine. You will understand. We
don’t differ that much.’ The woman smiles.

- ‘You are a strange chap, Tork. Do you really
have an affair with the duchess?’